General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

41. Unfortunately, the lack of academic positions for new PhDs has been

Sat Mar 29, 2014, 08:06 PM

Mar 2014

a problem for decades now. I've been aware of it for more than thirty years. The universities themselves are complicit in persuading people to get a PhD without ever talking about the eventual job prospects.

Sadly, this sort of thing happens in other fields also. Some years ago, 1982 to be precise, a co-worker was quite happy because her husband was going to barber school, to learn to be a barber. I remember thinking, What is the job market for that? but since we weren't very close, I didn't say anything. Sure enough, six months later when he finished his training, he then discovered that getting a job was going to be iffy at best. Around that time I left the job, so I don't know what he eventually did.

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Highlight:

Second-class Professors [View all] Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 OP

But the guy in charge of the football factory pscot Mar 2014 #1

But he's under terrible pressure. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #3

He has a 4 year guaranteed contract pscot Mar 2014 #5

Okay, you win. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #9

4 year contract that will pay him more than the prof will make in a 30-year career Doctor_J Mar 2014 #22

When professors are living in poverty, what more do we need to prove the current system has failed? reformist2 Mar 2014 #2

They are exploited workers Generic Other Mar 2014 #4

I know one former freeway flier who landed a permanent job. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #7

Superhuman efforts Generic Other Mar 2014 #13

I think Bill Gates envisions a world Mr.Bill Mar 2014 #15

Windows to pee and poo nadinbrzezinski Mar 2014 #47

Wow. Brigid Mar 2014 #48

In this case, it was a perfect fit. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #49

They sure as hell need a union. CaliforniaPeggy Mar 2014 #6

Actually, adjuncts are starting to join unions. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #8

How much do these second class professors make? NobodyHere Mar 2014 #10

In some places, $1200/semester for a course. a la izquierda Mar 2014 #12

ours make $1800 for a 3-hr class Doctor_J Mar 2014 #23

it varies widely-- I believe the average in the CSU* is about $25K/yr.... mike_c Mar 2014 #32

Where I work it's $1500/semester/credit Aldo Leopold Mar 2014 #37

Yes they need a union... a la izquierda Mar 2014 #11

SUNY Albany's TA/GA's are in fact unionized. DeadLetterOffice Mar 2014 #17

I was involved in that union fight drmeow Mar 2014 #26

I was a GA in SUNY for the first time back in the 90's. DeadLetterOffice Mar 2014 #36

Sounds about right drmeow Mar 2014 #45

Don't give up. a la izquierda Mar 2014 #39

CSU TA/GAs are organized.... mike_c Mar 2014 #33

We couldn't unionize in Oklahoma as grad students... a la izquierda Mar 2014 #40

I understand there are three different unions Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #43

not exactly.... mike_c Mar 2014 #50

Yes, I am in California and I do support increased higher ed funding. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #52

No adjuncts here. pangaia Mar 2014 #14

Yes they need a union. Yes they should be better paid. SheilaT Mar 2014 #16

"why more people don't just look at the economic reality and move on." alp227 Mar 2014 #18

If people think their own self interests are served SheilaT Mar 2014 #21

Good question. Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #25

Unfortunately, the lack of academic positions for new PhDs has been SheilaT Mar 2014 #41

Why do people stay in bad marriages? drmeow Mar 2014 #46

I'm an adjunct in a union. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #19

And you know what kinda bad apples you get with such a low wage? alp227 Mar 2014 #20

Let me guess, Lionel Mandrake Mar 2014 #27

Probably doesn't think to highly of... 3catwoman3 Mar 2014 #44

Adjuncts here do have a union... Mona Mar 2014 #24

Yes! In fact, hell yes! n/t RKP5637 Mar 2014 #28

Unionization for lecturers and adjuncts is drmeow Mar 2014 #29

many lecturers in the CSU make less money than fast food workers are asking for.... mike_c Mar 2014 #30

many years ago i was an adjunct in anthropology. mysuzuki2 Mar 2014 #31

I have a good friend who is an adjunct professor honeylady Mar 2014 #34

I tend to believe any unionization would be of benefit to this cause but I strongly advocate bkanderson76 Mar 2014 #35

yes Kali Mar 2014 #38

The adjuncts at our college are unionized. Gidney N Cloyd Mar 2014 #42

And yet the cost of going to college goes up and up! treestar Mar 2014 #51